1905.] Experiments with Blue-stone and Formalin. 293 



untreated. With the *I2 per cent, solution only 9*25 per cent, 

 germinated in 14 days, and with the stronger solutions no 

 germination took place. It will be noted, however, that the 

 grain was steeped in them for much longer than is recom- 

 mended in farming practice. Similar experiments reported 

 in the same publication were carried out by Dr. Von Sibrik 

 with half a pint of 40 per cent, formalin in 100 pints of water 

 {i.e., '2 per cent, solution). Wheat steeped in this for 5, 10, 

 and 15 minutes germinated 85,82, and 87 percent., whereas 

 a solution three times as strong {i.e., '6 per cent.) seriously 

 lowered the germination. He recommends therefore the use 

 of a '2 per cent, solution in which the grain should be steeped 

 for 15 minutes. 



The above experiments relate to the effect of these substances 

 on the germination, but it may be of interest to add the results 

 of some trials of different methods of preventing bunt or smut 

 in wheat, made at the Holmes Chapel Agricultural School in 

 1902 : — 



Dressing Applied. 



Materials Used. 



1. None 



2. Copper Sulphate, I lb., 



Water, I gallon 



3. Copper Sulphate, I lb., 



Quicklime, I lb., 

 Water, I galloa 



4. Urine and Quicklime . 



Method of Using. 



5. Water 



6. Formalin, x / z oz. of 40 



per cent, sol., I 

 gallon Water . -. 



7. Crude Carbolic Acid, 



1 lb., Water, 1 gal- 

 lon 



8. Caustic Soda, ]/ 2 oz., 



Water, 1 gallon 



I Steeped for 15 min. 

 ) 



j „ ,,4 hours 



C Steeped in Urine, I 

 j hour, and dried with 

 C Quicklime 



C Steeped for 2 min. in 

 \ water at 113 0 F. , and 

 ' 15 min. at 132 0 F. 



Steeped for 1 hour 

 do. 



Steeped for 6 hours 



Percentage 

 of ear 

 affected 

 with Bunt 



20 

 o 



Quality of 

 Sample 

 of Grain. 



16 



Bad. 

 Geod, Plump. 



Fair. 



( Poor, 

 ( Shrivelled. 



Fair. t 

 Poor. 



f Poor, 

 \ Shrivelled. 



Bad* 

 Shrivelled. 



The dressing with copper sulphate proved to be the most 

 satisfactory method. In these trials the strength of the formalin 

 solution was '125 per cent, of formaldehyde, in which the wheat 

 was steeped for one hour. 



